Bulgarian competition watchdog fines two firms for selling fake butter

Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has imposed substantial fines on two companies for misrepresenting their products as butter when they contained a high percentage of non-dairy fats. The ruling targets "Klass food" EOOD and "Alfa SD" OOD for deceiving consumers by marketing products with over 95% non-dairy fats as butter.

"Klass food" EOOD has been fined 186,319.87 euros for its role in the misleading product labeling. "Alfa SD" OOD faces a penalty of 123,369.62 euros for similar violations. The products in question, including one referred to as "Deutsche...", were found to be primarily composed of non-dairy fats, a significant departure from the definition of butter, which is made from milk or cream.

The CPC's decision underscores the commission's commitment to ensuring fair competition and protecting consumers from fraudulent practices in the food industry. By imposing these fines, the commission aims to deter other businesses from engaging in similar deceptive marketing tactics and to maintain consumer trust in product labeling.

This action highlights the importance of accurate product information and the regulatory oversight in place to enforce such standards. Consumers rely on clear and truthful labeling to make informed purchasing decisions, and the CPC's intervention seeks to uphold these expectations in the Bulgarian market.